News from the Reference Desk

Consumer Action Handbook

Patricia Smolin — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:44:23 +0000

The Consumer Action Handbook is published each year by the Federal Citizen Information Center at the General Services Administration. Inside, you’ll find helpful tips about preventing identity theft, understanding credit, filing a consumer complaint and many other useful topics. MPPL has two copies in English and one in Spanish in our collection. You may also view the entire Handbook online or in PDF format.

Topics include: Banking, Employment, Health Care, Housing, Identify Theft, and other consumer interests.

Federal 1040 Instructions have arrived

daleh — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:34:31 +0000

We received our first shipment of Federal 1040 Instructions this morning. Tax forms are kept on the second floor near the Reference Desk.

Citizenship Test Q&A (2013)

Patricia Smolin — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 01:26:58 +0000

We have many titles to help you prepare for the Citizenship Test, located near the Reference Desk. We also want to share the link to the 100 Civic questions and answers for the naturalization test, as made available by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Feb. 21, 2013: Community Resource Fair, Arlington Heights, IL

Patricia Smolin — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 15:20:57 +0000

The Illinois workNet Center will host a Resource Fair with organizations including:

- the Anixter Center North, Catholic Charities, CEDA, Chicago Federation of Labor, Department of Rehabilitation Services, Disabilityworks, District 214, Frisbie Senior Center Des Plaines, Jewish Vocational Services, Journey, The Road Home, My Free Taxes, Safer Foundation, The Harbour, Inc.

The IDESis co-sponsoring this Resource Fair. This program is open to the general public.

“We are hosting this Resource Fair to meet the critical community needs by offering access to important services,”said Lisa Maentz, Associate Director Business and Career Services, Inc. Maentz added,“We feel it is especially important to provide access to these services under one roof .” To view participating organizations, visit workNet.

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, February 21, 2013

WHO: Major resource agencies providing community support services access.

WHAT: Services include emergency/transitional shelter, Veteran’s Outreach, disability support, tax filing information, employment/job placement, re-entry support and more.

WHERE: IDES/Illinois workNet Center, 723 W. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL

Filing Taxes by Mail

Patricia Smolin — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 20:40:39 +0000

Times are changing and while many taxpayers choose to file their taxes electronically, others still prefer to submit their forms by mail. The print shipments from the IRS and IDOR to public libraries have been delayed and reduced significantly this year.

The Library no longer has state instruction books available and IDOR will not be sending additional quantities of forms nor instructions to the Library. As of this date, the Library has not yet received the IRS instructions for the 1040 or 1040A.

To request forms to be delivered to you individually in print, you may call the IRS or IDOR directly, or download and print copies of forms, instructions, or publications.

Internal Revenue Service: 800-829-3676 (Note: delivery dates were impacted by late tax legislation.) http://www.irs.gov/Forms-&-Pubs

Illinois Department of Revenue: 800-356-6302 (Note: the IDOR is encouraging filers to submit electronically and have limited the amounts of forms/instructions shipped to public libraries.) http://www.revenue.state.il.us/TaxForms/index.htm

The IDOR and IRS determine their own shipping dates.

Our Reference Desk would happy to help you access the IRS or IDOR websites to locate the forms you may need.

Genealogy in Time

Patricia Smolin — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:59:38 +0000

Genealogy has been a popular topic on the Web since its early days. In recent years many more companies are making genealogical resources available online. Genealogy In Time is an online magazine that reports on this aspect of the Web. Its editors have recently published a list of the top 100 genealogy websites based on usage; visit this site to find out what sites are most popular as well an analysis of the current state of genealogy.

Anne Shaughnessy, Genealogy Reference Librarian

Benefit Access Program (formerly Circuit Breaker)

julie collins — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:38:08 +0000

The Circuit Breaker Property Tax Relief Grant and Illinos Cares Rx is no longer being funded, effective July 1, 2012. However, a few benefits are still being offered:

Seniors Free Transit Ride
The Persons with Disabilities Free Transit Ride
Secretary of State License Plate Discount

You must submit a Benefit Access Application online only. Paper applications are not available or accepted.

For more info, follow link to Illlinois Department on Aging or contact the Senior HelpLine at 800-252-8966, 1-888-206-1327 (TTY).

Film “Lincoln” sparks visits to Springfield, IL

Patricia Smolin — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:38:12 +0000

Box office success of Steven Spielberg’s new film Lincoln, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, has boosted public interest in the life of Abraham Lincoln, and visits to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, IL

If you were drawn to the film, you may want to visit the Illinois Digital Archives collection of Lincoln documents from the State Library and the Illinois State Archives.

Salary Surveys

Patricia Smolin — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:34:27 +0000

Want to know what others in your field may be earning? There is always salary.com, but there is also some specific detail available thru the Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS Wage Data provides occupation, compensation, industry, geographic, and other demophraphic figures which can be very helpful in setting and negotiating salaries.

The New SBA Patriot Express Loan & VA Mortgage Loan Financing Just For Veterans

Patricia Smolin — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 22:38:08 +0000

SCORE, Village Bank & Trust, Harper College, Robert Morris University and SALUTE, Inc. have partnered to create an informational seminar on Veterans financing. The presentation will feature topics on home financing as well as small business loans. Discussion will include the Patriot Express Loan for new or expanding businesses. Dinner will be provided.

Please call or RSVP online
Date: Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Event Phone: (847) 870-6020

Meadow Club
2950 West Golf Road
Rolling Meadows IL 60008